LASHKARGAH (PAN): Nine Taliban insurgents were killed during an operation by Afghan and international troops in southern Helmand province, officials said on Wednesday.

The fighters attacked a joint patrol of Afghan and NATO-led forces in Marja district, deputy commander of 215th Maiwand Military Corps, Gen. Ghulam Farooq Parwani, told Pajhwok Afghan News. Seven militants were killed in a retaliatory airstrike.

After positive identification of the insurgents' position, the troops returned fire with small arms. Air support was called in and the fire was suppressed, the NATO-led force said in a statement.

"Following the engagement, ISAF conducted ground battle damage assessment and confirmed numerous insurgents were killed and one was wounded.  The wounded insurgent was taken to a medical treatment facility and detained."

Two guerrillas were killed on Tuesday during a clash in 11th Block area of the district, said the civil order police commander, Col. Ghulam Sakhi.

myn/mud